More than 700 living languages are spoken in Indonesia.[1] Most belong to the Austronesian language family, with a few Papuan languages also spoken. The official language is Indonesian (locally known as Bahasa Indonesia), a variant of Malay,[2] which was used in the archipelago, — borrowing heavily from local languages of Indonesia such as Javanese, Sundanese and Minangkabau. The Indonesian language is primarily used in commerce, administration, education and the media, but most Indonesians speak other languages, such as Javanese, as their first language.[1] Most books printed in Indonesia are written in the Indonesian language.
Since Indonesia only recognises a single official language, other languages are not recognised either at the national level or the regional level, thus making Javanese the most widely spoken language without official status, and Sundanese the second in the list (excluding Chinese dialects).
Languages by speakers
Several major ethno-linguistic groups of Indonesia
Largest languages in Indonesia[3]
(Figures indicate numbers of native speakers except for the national language, Indonesian)
Language |
Number (millions) |
Year surveyed |
Main areas where spoken |
Indonesian/Malay |
210 |
2010 |
throughout Indonesia |
Javanese |
84.3 |
2000 (census) |
Northern Banten, Northern West Java, Yogyakarta, Central Java and East Java |
Sundanese |
34.0 |
2000 (census) |
West Java, Banten |
Madurese |
13.6 |
2000 (census) |
Madura Island (East Java) |
Minangkabau |
5.5 |
2007 |
West Sumatra, Riau |
Musi (Palembang Malay)[4] |
3.9 |
2000 (census) |
South Sumatra |
Manado Malay (Minahasan) |
3.8 |
2001 |
Minahasa, North Sulawesi |
Bugis |
3.5 |
1991 |
South Sulawesi |
Banjarese |
3.5 |
2000 (census) |
South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan |
Acehnese |
3.5 |
2000 (census) |
Aceh |
Balinese |
3.3 |
2000 (census) |
Bali Island and Lombok Island |
Betawi |
2.7 |
1993 |
Jakarta |
Sasak |
2.1 |
1989 |
Lombok Island (West Nusa Tenggara) |
Batak Toba |
2.0 |
1991 |
North Sumatra |
Ambonese Malay |
1.9 |
1987 |
Maluku |
Makassarese |
1.6 |
1989 |
South Sulawesi |
Batak Dairi |
1.2 |
1991 |
North Sumatra |
Batak Simalungun |
1.2 |
2000 (census) |
North Sumatra |
Batak Mandailing |
1.1 |
2000 (census) |
North Sumatra |
Hokkien Chinese |
1.0 |
2000 |
North Sumatra, Riau, Riau Islands |
Jambi Malay |
1.0 |
2000 (census) |
Jambi |
Mongondow |
0.9 |
1989 |
North Sulawesi |
Gorontalo |
0.9 |
1989 |
Gorontalo (province) |
Ngaju Dayak |
0.9 |
2003 |
Southern Kalimantan |
Nias |
0.8 |
2000 (census) |
Nias Island, North Sumatra |
Batak Angkola |
0.7 |
1991 |
North Sumatra |
North Moluccan Malay |
0.7 |
2001 |
North Maluku |
Min Nan Chinese |
0.7 |
1982 |
Northern Sumatra, Riau, Riau Islands and West Kalimantan |
Hakka Chinese |
0.6 |
1982 |
Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands and West Kalimantan |
Batak Karo |
0.6 |
1991 |
North Sumatra |
Uab Meto |
0.6 |
1997 |
West Timor (East Nusa Tenggara) |
Bima |
0.5 |
1989 |
Sumbawa Island (West Nusa Tenggara) |
Manggarai |
0.5 |
1989 |
Flores Island (East Nusa Tenggara) |
Toraja-Sa’dan |
0.5 |
1990 |
South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi |
Komering |
0.5 |
2000 (census) |
South Sumatra |
Tetum |
0.4 |
2004 |
West Timor (East Nusa Tenggara) |
Rejang |
0.4 |
2000 (census) |
Bengkulu |
Muna |
0.3 |
1989 |
Southeast Sulawesi |
Basa Semawa |
0.3 |
1989 |
Sumbawa Island (West Nusa Tenggara) |
Bangka |
0.3 |
2000 (census) |
Bangka Island (Bangka Belitung) |
Osing |
0.3 |
2000 (census) |
East Java |
Gayo |
0.3 |
2000 (census) |
Aceh |
Cantonese |
0.3 |
2000 |
North Sumatera, Riau Islands, Jakarta |
Tolaki |
0.3 |
1991 |
Southeast Sulawesi |
Lewotobi |
0.3 |
2000 |
Flores Island (East Nusa Tenggara) |
Tae’ |
0.3 |
1992 |
South Sulawesi |
Comparison chart
Indonesian languages
Below is a chart of several Indonesian languages. Most of them belong to Austronesian languages family. While there has been misunderstandings on which ones should be classified as language and which ones should be classified as dialect, the chart confirms that most have similarities, yet are not mutually comprehensible. These languages are arranged according to the numbers of native speakers.
English |
one |
two |
three |
four |
water |
person |
house |
dog |
coconut |
day |
new |
we (inclusive) |
what |
and |
Kutainese |
satu |
due |
tige |
empat |
ranam |
urang |
rumah |
koyok |
nyiur |
hari |
beru |
etam |
apa |
dengan |
Indonesian/ Malay |
satu |
dua |
tiga |
empat |
air |
orang |
rumah |
anjing |
kelapa |
hari |
baru |
kita |
apa |
dan |
Javanese |
siji |
loro |
têlu[5] |
papat |
banyu |
uwòng[5] |
omah |
asu |
kambìl[5] |
dinå[5] |
anyar/énggal[5] |
adhéwé[5] |
åpå[5]/anu |
lan |
Sundanese |
hiji |
dua |
tilu |
opat |
cai/ci |
jalma |
imah |
anjing |
kalapa |
poé |
anyar |
urang |
naon |
jeung |
Madurese |
settong |
dhuwa' |
tello' |
empa' |
âên |
oreng |
roma |
pate' |
nyior |
are |
anyar |
sengko |
apa |
ban |
Minangkabau |
cie' |
duo |
tigo |
ampe' |
aie |
urang |
rumah |
anjiang |
karambia |
hari |
baru |
awak |
apo |
jo |
Palembang Malay |
sikok |
duo |
tigo |
empat |
banyu |
wong |
rumah |
anjing |
kelapo |
siang |
baru |
kito |
apo |
dan |
Buginese |
seqdi |
dua |
tellu |
eppa |
je'ne' |
tau |
bola |
asu |
kaluku |
esso |
ma-baru |
idiq |
aga |
na |
Banjarese |
asa |
dua |
talu |
ampat |
banyu |
urang |
rumah |
hadupan |
nyiur |
hari |
hanyar |
kita |
apa |
wan |
Acehnese |
sa |
dua |
lhèë |
peuët |
ië |
ureuëng |
rumoh |
asèë |
u |
uroë |
ban |
geutanyoë |
peuë |
ngon |
Balinese |
sa |
dadua |
telu |
patpat |
yèh |
anak |
umah |
cicing |
nyuh |
dina |
mara |
iraga |
apa |
muah |
Betawi |
atu' |
due |
tige |
empat |
aer |
orang |
rumeh |
anjing |
kelape |
ari |
baru |
kite |
ape |
ame |
Sasak |
sa/seke' |
due |
telu |
mpat |
aik |
dengan |
bale |
acong/basong |
kenyamen/nyioh |
jelo |
baru |
ite |
ape |
dait |
Batak Toba |
sada |
dua |
tolu |
opat |
aek |
halak |
jabu |
biang |
harambiri |
ari |
ibbaru |
hita |
aha |
dohot |
Ambonese Malay |
satu |
dua |
tiga |
ampa |
air |
orang |
ruma |
anjing |
kalapa |
hari |
baru |
katong |
apa |
dan |
Makassarese |
se're |
rua |
tallu |
appa' |
je'ne' |
tau |
balla' |
kongkong |
kaluku |
allo |
beru |
ikatte |
apa |
na |
Batak Mandailing |
sada |
dua |
tolu |
opat |
aek |
halak |
bagas |
asu |
arambir |
ari |
baru |
hita |
aha |
dohot |
Mongondow |
inta' |
dua |
tolu |
opat |
tubig |
intau |
baloi |
ungku' |
cekut |
singgai |
mo-bagu |
kita |
onda |
bo |
Manado Malay |
satu |
dua |
tiga |
ampa |
aer |
orang |
ruma |
anjing |
kalapa |
hari |
baru |
torang |
apa |
deng |
Dayak Ngaju |
ije' |
due' |
telu' |
epat |
danum |
uluh |
huma' |
asu |
enyuh |
andau |
haru |
itah |
narai |
en |
Lampung |
say |
ʁuwa |
telu |
ampat |
way |
jelema |
nuwa |
asu |
nyiwi |
ʁani |
ampai |
ʁam |
api |
jama |
Tolaki |
o'aso |
o'ruo |
o'tolu |
o'omba |
iwoi |
toono |
laika |
odahu |
sanggore |
oleo |
wuohu |
inggito |
ohawo |
ronga |
Nias |
sara |
dua |
tölu |
öfa |
idanö |
niha |
omo |
asu |
banio |
luo |
bohou |
ya'ita |
hadia |
ba |
Challenge
There are 726 languages spoken across the Indonesian archipelago in 2009 (dropped from 742 languages in 2007), the largest multilingual population in the world only after Papua New Guinea. Indonesian Papua, which is adjacent to Papua New Guinea, has the most languages in Indonesia.[6] Based on the EGIDS classification used by Ethnologue (formerly the Summer Institute of Linguistics), 63 languages are dying (shown in red on the bar chart, subdivided into Moribund and Nearly Extinct, or Dormant), which is defined as "The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home."[7]
Language education policy
Indonesia's Minister of Education and Culture Muhammad Nuh affirmed in January 2013 that the teaching of local languages as school subjects will be part of the national education curriculum. Nuh stated that much of the public worry about the teaching of local languages being left out of the curriculum is misplaced and that the new curriculum will be conveyed to them.
[8]
Languages by family
Several prominent languages spoken in Indonesia sorted by language family are:
- Austronesian languages – (Malayo-Polynesian branch). Most languages spoken in Indonesia belong to this family, which in return are related to languages spoken in Madagascar, Philippines, New Zealand, Hawaii and various Polynesian countries.
- Javanese language, spoken in Yogyakarta, Central Java and East Java. Also found throughout Indonesia and by migrants in Suriname. Most populous Austronesian language by number of first language speaker.
- Lampung language, two distinct but closely related languages spoken in Lampung, South Sumatra and Banten.
- Rejang language, spoken in Bengkulu province.
- Malayo-Sumbawan languages:
- Malay/Indonesian languages, spoken throughout Indonesia. Also used as national language.
- Acehnese language, spoken in Aceh, especially coastal part of Sumatra island.
- Minangkabau language, spoken in West Sumatra.
- Banjar language, spoken in South, East, and Central Kalimantan.
- Sundanese language, spoken in West Java, Banten and Jakarta.
- Balinese language, spoken in Bali.
- Madurese language, spoken in Madura, Bawean and surrounding islands off the coast of Java.
- Sasak language, spoken in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.
- Barito languages:
- Northwest Sumatran languages:
- South Sulawesi languages:
- Philippine languages:
- Enggano language of Sumatra is unclassified
- West Papuan languages, indigenous languages family found only in eastern Indonesia (northern Maluku and western Papua). Not closely related with other language families. Distinct from surrounding Austronesian languages.
- Trans–New Guinea languages, indigenous languages family found in eastern Indonesia (Papua, Flores, Timor islands) and New Guinea. Consisting hundreds of languages, including languages of the Asmat and Dani people.
- Mairasi languages (4)
- East Cenderawasih (Geelvink Bay) languages (10)
- Lakes Plain languages (19; upper Mamberamo River)
- Tor–Kwerba languages (17)
- Nimboran languages (5)
- Skou languages (Skou)
- Border languages (15)
- Senagi languages (2)
- Pauwasi languages
There are many additional small families and isolates among the Papuan languages.
Sign languages
Writing system
Like most writing systems in human history, Indonesia's are not rendered in native-invented systems, but devised by speakers of Tamil, Arabic, and Latin. Malay, for example, has a long history as a written language and has been rendered in Brahmic, Arabic, and Latin scripts. Javanese has been written in the Pallava script of South India, as well as their derivative (known as Kawi and Javanese), in an Arabic alphabet called pegon that incorporates Javanese sounds, and in the Latin script.
Chinese characters have never been used to write Indonesian languages, although Indonesian place-names, personal names, and names of trade goods appear in reports and histories written for China's imperial courts.[9]
List of writing systems
- Latin - The official writing system of Indonesian, most Indonesian languages now adopt Latin script.
- Kaganga - Historically used to write Rejangese, an Austronesian language from Bengkulu.
- Rencong - A Brahmic-based script, formerly used by Malays before the arrival of Islam, which introduced the Jawi script.
- Sundanese - A Brahmic-based script, use by Sundanese to write Sundanese language, although Sundanese also have a standard Latin orthography.
- Jawi/Pegon - An Arabic-based script, once widely used throughout Indonesia, now in decline but still use by Malays, Minangkabau, Banjarese, Acehnese and Javanese (which has its own form of Arabic known as Pegon.)
- Javanese - A Brahmic-based script use by the Javanese and related peoples, today the script is in rapid decline and largely supplanted by Latin.
- Kawi script - The oldest known Brahmic writing system in Indonesia and the ancestor to all Brahmic based writing systems in Insular Southeast Asia.
- Balinese - A Brahmic-based script use by the Balinese people to write Balinese, it is closely related to Javanese script.
- Rejang - A Brahmic-based script use by the Rejang people of Bengkulu, Sumatra. It is closely related to Kerinci, Lampung and Rencong script.
- Kerinci (Kaganga) - A Brahmic-based script use by the Kerincis to write their language.
- Batak - A Brahmic-based script, use by the Batak people of North Sumatra.
- Lontara - A Brahmic-based script, use by the Buginese in Sulawesi.
- Lampungese - A Brahmic-based script, still use by Lampung people to write Lampung language, although they are in rapid decline. Lampung script is closely related to Rencong, Kerinci and Rejang script.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 1) in Languages of Indonesia
English translation:
(All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, they are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.)
- Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
“ |
Semua orang dilahirkan merdeka dan mempunyai martabat dan hak-hak yang sama. Mereka dikaruniai akal dan hati nurani dan hendaknya bergaul satu sama lain dalam semangat persaudaraan. |
” |
“ |
Sabên manungsa kalairake mardika lan darbe martabat lan hak-hak kang pada. Kabeh pinaringan akal lan kalbu sarta kaajab anggone pasrawungan mêmitran siji lan sijine tansah ngugemi jiwa paseduluran |
” |
“ |
Semua manusia dilahirkan bebas dan samarata dari segi kemuliaan dan hak-hak. Mereka mempunyai pemikiran dan perasaan hati dan hendaklah bertindak di antara satu sama lain dengan semangat persaudaraan. |
” |
- Minangkabau (Baso Minangkabau)
“ |
Sadonyo manusia dilahiakan mardeka dan punyo martabat sarato hak-hak nan samo. Mareka dikaruniai aka jo hati nurani, supayo satu samo lain bagaul sarupo urang badunsanak. |
” |
“ |
Sininna rupa tau ri jajiangngi rilinoe nappunnai manengngi riasengnge alebbireng . Nappunai riasengnge akkaleng, nappunai riasengnge ati marennni na sibole bolena pada sipakatau pada massalasureng. |
” |
“ |
Sami manusane sane nyruwadi wantah merdeka tur maduwe kautamaan lan hak-hak sane pateh. Sami kalugrain papineh lan idep tur mangdane pada masawitra melarapan semangat pakulawargaan. |
” |
“ |
Sakumna jalma gubrag ka alam dunya teh sifatna merdika jeung boga martabat katut hak-hak anu sarua. Maranehna dibere akal jeung hate nurani, campur-gaul jeung sasamana aya dina sumanget duduluran. |
” |
“ |
Sadajana oreng lahir mardika e sarenge drajat klaban hak-hak se dha-padha. Sadajana eparenge akal sareng nurani ban kodu areng-sareng akanca kadi taretan. |
” |
“ |
Bandum ureuëng lahé deungon meurdéhka, dan deungon martabat dan hak njang saban. Ngon akai geuseumiké, ngon haté geumeurasa, bandum geutanjoë lagèë sjèëdara. Hak dan keumuliaan. |
” |
“ |
Ema hotu hotu moris hanesan ho dignidade ho direitu. Sira hotu iha hanoin, konsiensia n'e duni tenki hare malu hanesan espiritu maun-alin. |
” |
“ |
Atoni ma bife ok-okê mahonis kamafutû ma nmuî upan ma hak namnés. Sin napein tenab ma nekmeü ma sin musti nabai es nok es onlê olif-tataf. |
” |
“ |
Kanan mansian mahonis merdeka ma nok upan ma hak papmesê. Sin naheun nok tenab ma nekmeû ma sin es nok es musti nfain onlê olif-tataf. |
” |
“ |
Sabarataan manusia diranakakan bibas mardika wan ba'isi martabat lawan jua ba'isi hak-hak nang sama. Bubuhannya sabarataan dibari'i akal wan jua pangrasa hati nurani, supaya samunyaan urang antara sa'ikung lawan sa'ikung bapatutan nangkaya urang badangsanakan. |
” |
“ |
Unyin Jelema dilaheʁko merdeka jama wat pi'il ʁik hak sai gokgoh. Tiyan dikaruniako akal jama hati nurani maʁai unggal tiyan dapok nengah nyampoʁ dilom semangat muaʁiyan. |
” |
“ |
Manusio kutə yo lahia mərdeka ngən punyo hak dik samo. Manusio nəlie Tuhan aka ngən atie, kərno o kəlak nə itə bəkuat do dik luyən nak ləm raso səpasuak |
” |
- Bengkulu Malay (Bahaso Melayu Bengkulu)
“ |
Segalo orang dilahirkan merdeka kek punyo martabat kek hak-hak yang samo. Tobonyo dikasi akal kek hati nurani supayo bekawan dalam raso cak orang besanak |
” |
References
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